Everyone wants more insurance for children but President Bush. Threatens to veto plan that would help millions of kids.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) currently provides insurance for six million children. It’s a joint federal-state partnership – created in 1997 by President Bill Clinton – that covers children without health insurance.

A few months ago House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and the rest of Congress passed bills that would increase five-year funding and provide coverage to an additional four million children. The expanded SCHIP program would be financed almost entirely by a small increase in taxes on tobacco products.

Despite the overwhelming majority of Americans firmly supporting greater funding, President Bush has threatened a veto of the program’s federal funding.

Governors from 28 states – including Democrats and Republicans – recently signed onto a letter written by Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Eliot Spitzer (D-NY), criticizing Bush for his stance on SCHIP.

The current SCHIP plan is set to expire on September 30.

On a related note, Dustin, from Family Pride, offers great advice – and insight – regarding the healthcare industry’s discrimination against lesbian and gay families.